JP2917762B2 - Image processing system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system, and more particularly, to transfer and store an input image file to one of a common storage unit and a plurality of local storage units via a network. The present invention relates to such an image processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, instead of a conventional large general-purpose computer, there has been a movement to form a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like by utilizing a small computer such as a personal computer or a workstation whose processing capability has been significantly improved. It is becoming active. The transition to such small machines is called "downsizing" and is mainly aimed at reducing costs and shortening the development period.
In the field of image processing such as printing / plate making, CAD, etc., downsizing is rapidly progressing. For example, an image processing system in which a plurality of image processing terminals arranged in a distributed manner operate in a network environment and execute predetermined image processing in parallel while sharing various data stored in a database is common. It is becoming.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional printing / plate making processing system. In FIG. 13, a plurality of image processing terminals 1, a database management device 3, and an image file input terminal 7 are communicably connected to each other via a wired or wireless network 2. A common storage device 4 is connected to the database management device 3. The common storage device 4 includes a storage device such as a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a memory disk that has a large storage capacity and can access files at high speed.
A local storage device 6 is connected to the image processing terminal 1. The local storage device 6 is configured by a storage device such as a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a memory disk having a smaller storage capacity and a lower file access speed than the common storage device 4.

For example, when collecting images of a plurality of originals such as photographic originals, the original is read using an image input device such as a scanner connected to the image file input terminal 7, and each original is read. An image file is created. The database management device 3 unconditionally receives all image files from the image file input terminal 7 via the network 2 and writes them in the common storage device 4. Thus, all the image files are stored in the common storage device 4. The database management device 3 manages writing and reading of image files to and from the common storage device 4 and manages transfer of image files between the common storage device 4 and each image processing terminal 1. Thus, each image processing terminal 1 can commonly use the image files stored in the common storage device 4.

[0005] By the way, there is a case where a document is scratched or an insulated wire is shown in the background of the subject of the document. In such a case, image processing such as retouching to remove scratches or remove electric wires from the data of the image files is performed by each operator in each image processing terminal 1 for each image file. .

In this case, each operator who operates the image processing terminal 1 is assigned a work schedule for image processing in advance according to a predetermined schedule. In addition, the database management device 3 manages image files to be processed in each image processing terminal 1 for image processing by long-term transaction processing. Here, the long-term transaction processing usually involves a write lock on an image file to be processed for image processing for several hours or more, and centrally stores and manages the image file in the common storage device 4.

Under this long-term transaction processing,
When an operator of a certain image processing terminal 1 reads an image file that is scheduled to be processed in an image processing, the operator is allowed to re-store the processed image file in the common storage device 4. However, the operator of another image processing terminal 1 is prohibited from reading and writing the image file once read.
This is to prevent an operator of another image processing terminal 1 from executing an illegal image file rewriting process.

For this reason, the operator of each image processing terminal 1 operates the image processing terminal 1 before starting the image processing work, and stores the image file of the work schedule assigned to each user from the common storage device 4. The image data is stored in a local storage device 6 that performs image processing via the network 2. This locks. Thereafter, each operator operates the image processing terminal 1 to read the image file stored in the local storage device 6 into the internal memory of the image processing terminal 1 and perform various image processing such as retouching, and perform processing on the processed image. The file is stored in the local storage device 6. And 1
When one image processing operation is completed, each operator reversely transfers the processed image file from the local storage device 6 of the image processing terminal 1 to the database management device 3 and re-registers it in the common storage device 4. Thereby, the lock is released.

[0009]

However, the conventional printing and printing
In the plate making processing system, the image file input at the image file input terminal 7 is temporarily stored unconditionally from the image file input terminal 7 to the common storage device 4 via the network 2 and the database management device 3. . Therefore, each image processing terminal 1 needs to store, ie, check out, the image file to be worked from the common storage device 4 to the local storage device 6 via the network 2 before performing image processing on the image file. Was.

By the way, an image file used for printing and plate making is composed of raster data. Therefore, the data amount of the image data of the image file is generally large. For example, an image file of an A4 document (400 L / I
nch), it reaches about 60 MB. On the other hand, even if a high-speed LAN is used for the network 2,
The effective transfer speed of the image file data is, for example, several M
It is limited to about bit / sec to several tens Mbit / sec. For this reason, it takes tens of seconds to tens of seconds to transfer an image file from a certain image processing terminal 1 to the database management device 3 when the network 2 is not used.

On the other hand, since image processing is performed in a plurality of image processing terminals 1, another image processing terminal 1 may receive an image file from the database management device 3 at the same time. In this case, the load on the network 2 increases, the transfer speed in the network 2 substantially decreases, and it takes more time to transfer the image file. on the other hand,
A time for inputting / outputting an image file from the database management device 3 to the common storage device 4 for each check-out,
It takes time to input and output image files from the image processing terminal 1 to the local storage device 6 for storage and reading.

Therefore, in the conventional printing and plate making processing system, the waiting time of the operator becomes long, and the processing efficiency of the image processing terminal 1 using the network 2 is reduced.
There is a problem that the operation rate of the entire system is reduced.

[0013] The conventional CAD system also has
It has the same configuration as the plate making system. by the way,
Generally, an image file handled in a CAD system is composed of vector data. For this reason, CA
The data amount of the image file handled by the D system is about one-tenth of the data amount of the image file handled by the printing / plate making system. Therefore, CAD
In the case of the system, the above-mentioned problems are somewhat reduced as compared with the printing and plate making processing system. However, conventional CAD
The problem still remains in the system.

The present invention solves the above technical problems, reduces the waiting time of an operator, increases the processing efficiency of an image processing terminal using a network, and improves the operation rate of the entire system. It is an object to provide a processing system.

[0015]

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention has the following arrangement. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the input image file is transferred to one of a common storage unit and a plurality of local storage units via a network and stored, and is connected to the network. A database management device that manages writing and reading of image files to and from a common storage unit, a plurality of image processing terminals connected to a network, each of which reads an image file from a corresponding local storage unit and performs predetermined image processing, An image file input unit for inputting a file, and a job information file including at least identification information indicating whether or not there is a work schedule in the image processing terminal is generated for each image file connected to the network and input by the image file input unit. JOB information file generation means, connected to a network Distributed transfer means for distributedly transferring the image file input by the image file input means to either the common storage means or the local storage means based on the identification information in the job information file, whereby the image processing terminal operates The scheduled image files are distributed to the corresponding local storage unit, and the image files not scheduled to be worked on the image processing terminal are distributed to the common storage unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image processing system according to the first aspect.
The identification information in the JOB information file indicates that there is a work schedule in the image processing terminal, the distributed transfer means has enough free space to write the image file to be transferred to the corresponding local storage means. When the result of the search by the free space search means for searching whether or not there is free space in the corresponding local storage means, the image file is transferred to the local storage means,
And a distribution unit for transferring the image file to the common storage unit when there is no free space in the corresponding local storage unit.

[0017]

In the image processing system according to the first aspect, the database management device, the plurality of image processing terminals, the job information file generating means, and the distributed transfer means are connected to a network. The distributed transfer unit distributes and transfers the image file input by the image file input unit to either the common storage unit or the local storage unit based on the identification information in the JOB information file transferred from the JOB information generation unit. As a result, image files scheduled to be worked on the image processing terminal are distributed to the corresponding local storage unit, and image files not scheduled to be worked on the image processing terminal are distributed to the common storage unit. When the operator of the image processing terminal performs image processing on the image file to be worked on, the image file to be worked on is called from the local storage means of the image processing terminal on which this operator works. In this case, it takes only time to read the image file to be worked from the local storage means to the image processing terminal. For this reason, there is no need for reading time from the common storage means to the database management device, transfer time from the database management device to the image processing terminal via the network, and storage time from the image processing terminal to the local storage means. In addition, the substantial transfer speed of the network is maintained at a high speed without imposing a load on the network.

An image processing system according to a second aspect is the first aspect.
, The distributed transfer means includes a free space search means and a distribution means for transferring an image file. When the identification information in the JOB information file indicates that there is a work schedule in the image processing terminal, the free space search means determines whether there is enough free space for writing the image file to be transferred to the corresponding local storage means. Search. The distribution means
As a result of the search by the free space search means, when the corresponding local storage means has free space, the image file is transferred to the local storage means, and when the corresponding local storage means has no free space, the image file is transferred to the common storage means. . For this reason, the image file having the work schedule is not lost. Therefore, the operator of the image processing terminal can perform the operation without worrying about the free space of the local storage unit.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing and plate making system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a plurality of image processing terminals 10a to 10n, a database management device 30, a job management device 50, and an image file input terminal 70 are connected to a wired or wireless network 2.
0 so that they can communicate with each other. The image processing terminals 10a to 10n, the database management device 30, the job management device 50, and the image file input terminal 70 are constituted by, for example, workstations.

A common storage device 40 as a common storage means is connected to the database management device 30. Since the common storage device 40 needs to store a large number of other files such as a plurality of image files and image parts and access the image files and other files at high speed, a hard disk having a large storage capacity and a short seek time is required. , And a storage device such as a magneto-optical disk and a memory disk.

The image processing terminals 10a to 10n are individually connected to local storage devices 60a to 60n as local storage means. Local storage devices 60a-6
0n is only required to be able to store an image file to be processed by the corresponding image processing terminal 10 and a file such as an image part used in the image processing. Therefore, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, It is configured by a storage device such as a memory disk.

The image file input terminal 70 has a local bus 713 (for example, SCS) for performing local communication.
I bus). The local bus 713 is connected to a drum scanner 714 and a flat scanner 715 for reading a document and inputting an image file, and a magnetic disk device 716 for temporarily storing the input image file.

For example, when a request is made for plate making of a printed matter composed of a plurality of pages in which an image (plural or singular) is inserted for each page, the process manager predicts the finished image from the attached original such as a color film. Then, it is examined whether or not image processing such as image retouching is necessary. Then, the process manager creates a prepress instruction based on the necessity of image processing and the like, and passes the prepress instruction to the operators of the job management apparatus 50, the image file input terminal 70, and the image processing terminals 10a to 10n.

The operator of the job management apparatus 50 inputs job information defining the operator's work schedule and the like in each image processing terminal 10 based on the plate making instruction. Thus, the job management device 50 creates a job information file. Note that the job management apparatus 50 includes an image file input terminal 70 and image processing terminals 10a to 10n, which will be described later.
And the database management device 30. JOB created in JOB management device 50
The information file is transferred to the database management device 30, the image file input terminal 70, and the image processing terminals 10a to 10n via the network 20.

The image file input terminal 70, based on the job information file, converts the image file input at the image file input terminal 70 to any of the image processing terminals 10a.
10 to 10n or to the common storage device 40 of the database management device 30. The local storage devices 60a to 60n and the common storage device 40 to be worked via the network 20 are determined. And transfer this image file to either. The operator of each of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n performs image processing such as retouching on the data of the image file according to the work schedule based on the plate making instruction.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration near the image file input terminal 70 and the local bus 713 shown in FIG. 2, a CPU 701, a main memory 702, a frame buffer 703, a magnetic disk device 705, a keyboard 707, a mouse 708, and communication interfaces 711 and 712 are connected to a system bus 700 of the image file input terminal 70. A D / A converter 709 that converts a digital signal into an analog video signal is connected to the frame buffer 703. D /
The C converter display 710 is connected to the A converter 709. The communication interface 711 is connected to the network 20.
Connected to. The local bus 713 is connected to the communication interface 712.

The CPU 701 includes a communication interface 71
1 and the JOB management device 50 via the network 20
And receives the JOB information file and stores it in the magnetic disk device 705. The magnetic disk device 705 stores a window system, an image reading program, an image transfer program, and the like. CPU 701
A window system stored in the magnetic disk device 705, an image reading program, an image transfer program,
Expands the job information file and the like in the main memory 702,
It operates according to these programs and JOB information files.

The operator operates the keyboard 707 and the mouse 708 to issue commands and various commands for designating the reading range of the document set on the drum scanner 714 or the flat scanner 715, the reading density of the document, the file name of the read image file, and the like. Enter the data. CP
U701 is a drum scanner 714 or a flat scanner 71 based on an operator's command or input of various data.
5 is temporarily stored in the magnetic disk device 716.

Note that, in the case of inputting an operator's command or various data at the time of reading a document or confirming a read image file, the CPU is used.
Reference numeral 701 reads a window or a read image file into the frame buffer 703 and displays it on the CRT display 710. Further, the CPU 701 communicates with the database management device 30 and each image processing terminal 10 via the communication interface 711 and the network 20, and based on the JOB information file,
The image file stored in the storage device 16 is transferred to the database management device 30 or the image processing terminals 10a to 10n.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image processing terminal 10a and the local storage device 60a shown in FIG. 3, a system bus 100 of an image processing terminal 10a includes a CPU 101, a main memory 10
2, frame buffer 103, magnetic disk device 10
5. The keyboard 107, the mouse 108, the communication interface 111, and the input / output interface 112 are connected. A D / A converter 109 is provided in the frame buffer 103.
Are connected, and a CRT display 110 is connected to the D / A converter 109. The communication interface 111
Connected to network 20. For example, a magneto-optical disk device is connected to the input / output interface 112 as the local storage device 60a. Other image processing terminal 10
b to 10n and the local storage devices 60b to 60n
It is configured similarly to the image processing terminal 10a and the local storage device 60a.

The CPU 101 has a communication interface 11
1 and the JOB management device 50 via the network 20
And receives the job information file and stores it in the magnetic disk device 105. The magnetic disk device 105 stores a window system, an image processing application, an image file reading program, a new version image file generating program, and the like. C
The PU 101 operates according to a window system, an image processing application, an image file reading program, a new version image file generation program, a JOB information file, and the like stored in the magnetic disk device 105.

The CPU 101 has a communication interface 11
1 and the image file input terminal 70 and the database management device 30 via the network 20. When an image file to be processed by the image processing terminal 10a is sent from the image file input terminal 70, the CPU 101 transmits the image file to the local storage device 6 via the input / output interface 112.
0a is stored. The operator operates the keyboard 107 and the mouse 108 to perform image processing on an image file to be worked on using commands such as retouching.
The CPU 101 reads an image file to be worked on according to the operation of the keyboard 107 and the mouse 108 by the operator, expands the image file in the main memory 102, and executes a predetermined image processing on the image file.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the database management device 30 and the common storage device 40 shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the system bus 300 includes:
CPU 301, main memory 302, frame buffer 303, magnetic disk device 305, keyboard 307,
The mouse 308, the communication interface 311 and the input / output interface 312 are connected. A D / A converter 309 is connected to the frame buffer 303, and a CRT display 310 is connected to the D / A converter 309.
The communication interface 311 is connected to the network 20. For example, a large-capacity hard disk device is connected to the input / output interface 312 as the common storage device 40.

The CPU 301 has the communication interface 31
1 and the JOB management device 50 via the network 20
And receives the job information file and stores it in the magnetic disk device 305. The magnetic disk device 305 stores a window system, a database program, and the like. The CPU 301 operates according to a window system, a database program, a JOB information file, and the like stored in the magnetic disk device 105.

The CPU 301 has the communication interface 31
1 and the image file input terminal 70 and the image processing terminals 10a to 10n via the network 20. When an image file not scheduled to be processed by the image processing terminals 10 a to 10 n is sent from the image file input terminal 70, the CPU 101 stores the image file in the common storage device 40 via the input / output interface 312. I do. A request to read a file such as an image component stored in the common storage device 40 is issued to the image processing terminal 10.
If there is a file from a to 10n, the CPU 301 reads this file from the common storage device 40 and transfers it to the requested image processing terminal 10a to 10n via the communication interface 311 and the network 20.

Next, the operation of the printing / plate making system shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the job management device 50, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a job information file generated by the job management device 50. The operation of generating a JOB information file in the JOB management device 50 and transferring the JOB information file from the JOB management device 50 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First, the operator of the job management apparatus 50 determines the job name, page number, image file name, number of colors, number of input lines, size in the main scanning direction (pixels) for each of a plurality of originals based on the plate making instruction. PIX), the size in the sub-scanning direction (the number of pixels PIX), the amount of data, the name of the worker, the image processing terminal to be worked on, and the presence or absence of the image processing scheduled. As a result, C of the job management apparatus 50
The PU generates the JOB information file shown in FIG. 6 (step a1). When a JOB information file is generated, JO
The CPU of the B management device 50 transmits this JOB information file via the network 20 to the database management device 30,
Image file input terminal 70 and image processing terminals 10a to
10n (step a2).

In FIG. 6, the JO of the JOB information file
The B name is a management concept of one job when performing plate making of a printed matter, and corresponds to, for example, the name of a company that has ordered plate making of a printed matter. The JOB name is used as data for classifying jobs hierarchically, and is stored in the local storage devices 60a to 60n.
And as directory information in the common storage device 40. The page number is a management concept below the JOB name, and corresponds to, for example, a serial number corresponding to each page of the printed matter. The number of input lines is determined by the reading density (Line) at which a document is read by the drum scanner 714 or the flat scanner 715.
/ Inch). The number of colors is the number of colors used for printing. For color printing, usually yellow (Y),
There are four colors: magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

The main scanning direction is a reading direction of a document by the drum scanner 714 or the flat scanner 715.
For example, in the case of the drum scanner 714, the direction is the rotation direction of the drum. The sub-scanning direction is a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. For example, in the case of the drum scanner 714,
It is in the direction of the rotation axis of the drum. The size in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is one unit pixel (pixel) for forming an image.
Is the number of If the amount of data is (8 bits / pixel) for each color, it is calculated by equation (1). Data amount (Byte) = Main scanning direction size (Pixel) × Sub-scanning direction size (Pixel) × Number of colors (1) Note that this calculation may be automatically calculated by the JOB management device 50.

The operator names are the image processing terminals 10a to 10n
Is the name of the operator who processes the image file. The image processing terminals scheduled to work are the image processing terminals 10a to 10n that perform image processing on image files. The presence or absence of the image processing schedule is identification information indicating a work schedule of image processing in the image processing terminals 10a to 10n, and plays an important role in transferring an image file to the image processing terminals 10a to 10n or the common storage device 40. . “Yes” means image processing terminal 1
0a to 10n indicate that an image processing work is scheduled.
“None” indicates that there is no schedule for image processing in the image processing terminals 10a to 10n.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart when the image file input terminal 70 transfers an image file. First, the CPU 701 of the image file input terminal 70 initializes a count value of a counter k indicating the number of image files to be transferred to any one of the common storage device 40 and the local storage devices 60a to 60n (step b1). Then, CPU
701 receives the job information file from the job management device 50 (step b2). Next, the CPU 701
Looking at the number of lines in the JOB information file (see FIG. 6), that is, the total number of image files, the total number M of image files to be transferred to one of the common storage device 40 and the local storage devices 60a to 60n is stored in the register m. (Step b3).

Next, the CPU 701 obtains the count value of the counter k, and the common storage device 40 and the local storage device 6
The number of image files transferred to any one of 0a to 60n is known (step b4). For example, in the case of the image file F11 to be transferred first in FIG. 6, the count value of the counter k is:
It is "0".

Next, the CPU 701 looks at the column “Presence or absence of image processing” in the JOB information file for the image file to be transferred, and determines whether there is a work schedule for performing image processing at the image processing terminals 10 a to 10 n. A decision is made (step b5). If there is an image processing schedule, the CPU 70
1 obtains the data amount of the image file to be transferred by looking at the data amount column of the JOB information file for the image file to be transferred. Next, the CPU 701 operates the local storage device 60 of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n to be operated.
It is determined whether there is enough free space for storing image files in a to 60n (step b6).

If there is free space, the CPU 701 transfers the image file to the local storage devices 60a to 60n of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n to be worked (step b7). For example, the image file F11 to be transferred first, which is scheduled to be processed, is transferred to the local storage device 60a if there is free space in the local storage device 60a of the image processing terminal 10a.

If there is no scheduled image processing in step b5, the CPU 701 transfers this image file to the common storage device 40 (step b8). For example, an image file F21 without an image processing schedule shown in FIG.
Is transferred to the common storage device 40. This prevents the free space of the local storage devices 60a to 60n from being reduced. In step b6, if there is not enough free space for storing the image file in the local storage devices 60a to 60n of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n having the image processing scheduled, the CPU 701 stores the image file to be processed in the common storage. Transfer to the device 40 (step b)
8). Thus, the image file to be worked on is not lost. Therefore, the image processing terminals 10a-
The 10n operator has the local storage devices 60a-60
Work can be performed without worrying about n free space.

One image file is stored in the local storage device 6.
When the data is transferred to any one of 0a to 60n and the common storage device 40 (steps b7 and b8), the CPU 701 determines whether the count value of the counter k is equal to or less than the number M of image files set in the register m (step b7). Step b9). If there is an image file that has not been transferred to any of the local storage devices 60a to 60n and the common storage device 40 (k <M), the count value of the counter k is incremented by "1" (step b10). Steps b4 to b10 are repeatedly executed to transfer an image file that has not yet been transferred to one of the local storage devices 60a to 60n and the common storage device 40.

When all the image files to be transferred (M image files F11 to Fn1 in FIG. 6) are transferred to one of the local storage devices 60a to 60n and the common storage device 40, the CPU 701 executes a loop in step b9. Escape and end the image file transfer operation.

In a new job, the image processing terminals 10a to 10n
When the image processing is performed in the local storage device 6,
Most of the image files and the like stored in 0a to 60n are deleted before the start of the work. Therefore, the free space of the local storage devices 60a to 60n is large (for example,
Several 100 MB). Therefore, the local storage device 60a
Include image files F11 and F11 of FIG.
12 is stored in the local storage device 60b as an image file F23 with an image processing schedule. On the other hand, the common storage device 40 stores the image file F with no scheduled image processing.
, Fn1,..., Fn1 are stored.

When the operators of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n perform image processing on the image files to be worked, the image files to be worked are called from the local storage devices 60a to 60n of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n on which the operators work. Will be. In this case, the image processing terminals 10a to 10a are transmitted from the local storage devices 60a to 60n.
n requires only the time to call the image file to be worked. For this reason, the transfer time from the common storage device 40 to the database management device 30 is also changed from the database management device 30 via the network 20 to the image processing terminals 10 a to 10
No transfer time to 0n is required. Network 2
No load on network 20
Is maintained at a high speed. Therefore,
As the waiting time of the operator becomes shorter, the processing efficiency of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n increases, and the operation efficiency of the entire system increases.

Next, the operation of the operator in the image processing terminals 10a to 10n and the image processing terminals 10a to 10n
Will be described. Here, the image processing terminals 10a to 10a
n and the image processing terminal 10a
〜１０10n are almost the same. Therefore, the operation of the image processing terminal 10a by the operator and the operation of the image processing terminal 10a will be described as a representative. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the operator in the image processing terminal 10a, FIG. 9 is a flowchart when the image processing terminal 10a reads an image file, and FIG. It is a flowchart at the time of generation.

In FIG. 8, the operator of the image processing terminal 10a starts an image processing application (step c1). Next, based on the plate-making instruction, the operator uses the image file name of the work target (for example, F1 in FIG. 6).
2) and a version (for example, 1) are input (step c2). Next, the operator performs image processing such as retouching on the input image file data as instructed based on the plate making instruction (step c).
3). Next, the operator determines whether the image processing has been performed as instructed (step c4).

If the image processing can be performed as instructed, the next version (for example, version 2 is added to the image file on which the image processing has been performed) in order to save the image file (version 1 of F12) to be processed. If not used, version 2 is input, and if versions 2, 3, 4, and 5 are already used, version 6 is input (step c5). Next, the operator saves the image file on which the image processing has been performed (step c6).
If the image processing cannot be performed as instructed in step c4, the image file on which the image processing has been performed is discarded,
finish. As a result, the image file of the target version (for example, in the case of failure in the process of processing the version 2, 3, 4, etc., the version 1, 2, 3, etc. of F12) remains, and the operator The image processing can be performed again.

Here, the database management file created based on steps c5 and c6 and the version transition of the image file will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a database management file created for the image file “F12”, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the image file “F12”.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing version transitions of FIG. The database management file may be created by the database management device 30 or may be created by the image processing terminal 10a and transferred to the database management device 30.

As described in step c5 of FIG. 8, the version is input by the operator of the image processing terminal 10a. In this database management file, the previous version is also managed collectively in order to manage the version history. The image file “F12” is managed by an image processing terminal: an absolute path (a path name starting with / (/: root)). The file name of the database management file is (file name disclosed to the operator). (version). (Previous version). For example, in F12.3.2, the file name disclosed to the operator is “F12”, the version is “3”, and the previous version is “2”. In addition, the version last accessed by the operator ("O" in FIG. 11)
) Are also managed by the database management file. The version is sequentially incremented by +1 from the default version “1” for performing the editing process.

In FIG. 12, the version 1 is the image file F12 transferred from the image file input terminal 70.
It is itself. Version 2 is, for example, version 1
This is an image file from which the electric wire in the background of the person has been deleted. In version 3, for example, the skin color of the person in version 2 is lightened. Version 4 is the version 2 in which the skin color of the person is darkened. In version 5, the acne became noticeable due to the lighter skin color in version 3, and thus the acne was deleted. At the stage of creating this version 5, the latest access version of the database management file becomes version 3 as shown in FIG.

Next, a flowchart when the image processing terminal 10a of FIG. 9 reads an image file will be described.
Note that the flowchart in FIG. 9 is executed in response to the operation of the operator in step c2 in FIG. First, the CPU 101 of the image processing terminal 10a determines whether or not there is a request for reading the work target image file from the image processing application, and waits for the request (step d1).
When an image file read request is received from the image processing application, the CPU 101 refers to the JOB information file of FIG. 6 and the database management file of FIG. 11, searches the free space of the local storage device 60a, and The name / version data amount, the existing directory, and the free space of the local storage device 60a are acquired (step d2).

Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not there is free space in the local storage device 60a for storing the image file to be worked (step d3). The determination of the free space in the local storage device 60a is based on the fact that the image file processed by the local storage device 60a and the image file processed by the image processing are stored in the local storage device 6a as much as possible.
0a.

If there is free space in the local storage device 60a, the image file to be worked out is checked out to the local storage device 60a (step d4). For example, when version 2 of the image file F12 in the local storage device 60a is called to create version 4 (see FIGS. 11 and 12), the local storage device 60
The image file F12 of version 2a is copied to the local storage device 60a, and version X is tentatively added. Therefore, two image files of version 2 and version X having the same contents as version 2 exist in the local storage device 60a. This is because, when image processing is performed on an image file, the image file before image processing is left as an old version and backed up. Then, the version 2 image file F12 is locked. The operator performs image processing on the version X image file read from the local storage device 60a.

At step d3, the local storage device 6
If there is no free space in 0a, the image file to be worked out is checked out to the common storage device 40 (step d5). For example, when the version 3 of the image file F12 in the local storage device 60a is called and a version 5 is created (see FIGS. 11 and 12), the image file F12 of the version 3 in the local storage device 60a is stored in the common storage device 40. And temporarily copy version X
Is appended. Then, the version 3 image file F1
2 is locked. The operator performs image processing on the version X image file read from the common storage device 40.

Next, a flowchart when the image processing terminal 10a of FIG. 10 generates a new version of an image file will be described. Note that the flowchart in FIG. 10 is executed in accordance with the operation of the operator in steps c5 and c6 in FIG. As described in FIG. 11, in this embodiment, the version of the image file subjected to the image processing is input by the operator himself. For this reason, the concept of the version of the image file subjected to the image processing is managed while being conscious of the operator.

In the past, the operator could manage the versions. This conventional version management is as follows. When the image processing of the image file is completed, the operator inputs a new image file name if the version is changed. For example, when the image file name of the old version is “F12”, the image file name of the new version is “B12”. Then, the operator stores the new version of the image file name B12 in the database management device 3.
0 is registered in the database management file. Then, the operator checks the new version of the image file B12 into the common storage device 4.

However, in such conventional version management, it is difficult for the operator to understand the relationship between the old version and the new version, and it is rather difficult to perform version management. In addition, various operations must be performed, which places a burden on the operator. Therefore, in this embodiment, version management of the operator is facilitated, and the burden on the operator is eliminated.

In FIG. 10, C of the image processing terminal 10a
The PU 101 first determines whether the image processing of the image file has been completed, and waits until the image processing is completed (step e1). When the image processing is completed, the process proceeds to step e2,
Determine if the version has changed. When steps c5 and c6 in FIG. 8 are executed by the operator, C
The PU 101 registers the new version of the image file in the database management file of FIG. 11 (step e).
3). Next, the data of the image file subjected to the image processing is checked in (step e4). That is, the image file of the new version is overwritten on the image file to which the version X is tentatively described as described in steps d4 and d5 in FIG. Therefore, the old version image file and the new version image file exist in the local storage device 60a or the common storage device 40. Then, the lock of the image file of the old version is released. Thereby, the other image processing terminals 10b-1
0n operator can use this image file.

Thus, the operator need only input the new versions "2", "3",... In step c5 in FIG. 8 and perform the SAVE operation in step c6.
Therefore, the operator does not need to change the image file name, does not need to register it in the database management file, and does not need to check in a new version of the image file. Therefore, version control of the operator is facilitated, and the burden on the operator is eliminated.

In step e2, when there is no change in the version, that is, when the operator forcibly ends from step c4 in FIG. 8, the CPU 101 deletes the data of the unprocessed or incompletely processed image file. (Step e5). At this time, step d4 in FIG.
The image file temporarily attached with the version X described in d5 is deleted. Therefore, the local storage device 60
a or the capacity of the common storage device 40 is free. Then, the lock of the image file of the old version is released. Thereby, the operators of the other image processing terminals 10b to 10n can use this image file.

As long as there is free space in the local storage device 60a according to the flow chart of FIG.
You will be checked out at Further, according to the flowchart of FIG. 10, the local storage device 60a is checked into the local storage device 60a. For this reason, the transfer of image files using the network 20 is eliminated, the load on the network 20 is reduced, and the substantial transfer speed of the network 20 is maintained. Further, since the checkout is performed from the local storage device 60a to the local storage device 60a, the input / output time of the image file can be executed at high speed. Therefore, this also shortens the waiting time of the operator, increases the processing efficiency of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n, and increases the operating efficiency of the entire system.

In the above-described embodiment, the local storage devices 60a to 60n have magneto-optical disks,
Although a hard disk is used for 0, the present invention may be implemented using a storage device such as a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a memory disk, and a magnetic tape. Further, the present invention is implemented as a printing / plate making system, but may be implemented in another image processing system such as a CAD system. Further, the database management device 30 and the JOB management device 50 are separately provided. However, the database management device 30 and the JOB management device 50 have both functions.
You may make it implement with one apparatus.

Further, the image file is executed by using the drum scanner 714, the plane scanner 715, and the image file input terminal 70. However, the image file is input in advance to an offline medium, for example, an archiver, and the network input from the archiver input device to the network 20 is performed. An image file may be transferred via a network 20. A connection device is provided between another network system and the network 20, and an image file input in another network system is transferred from the connection device via the network 20. You may make it. Further, the common storage device 40 may be a virtual local storage device of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n by using a technique such as mounting.

[0069]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, before an operator's operation, an image file scheduled to be operated by the image processing terminal is stored in a corresponding local storage unit, and an image file not scheduled to be operated by the image processing terminal is commonly stored. Means for distributed transfer. Therefore, when the operator of the image processing terminal performs image processing on the image file to be worked, the image file to be worked is called from the local storage means of the image processing terminal on which the operator works.
In this case, it takes only time to read the image file to be worked from the local storage means to the image processing terminal.
For this reason, there is no need for reading time from the common storage means to the database management device, transfer time from the database management device to the image processing terminal via the network, and storage time from the image processing terminal to the local storage means. In addition, the substantial transfer speed of the network is maintained at a high speed without imposing a load on the network. Therefore, the waiting time of the operator is reduced, the processing efficiency of the image processing terminals 10a to 10n is increased, and the operation efficiency of the entire system is increased.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the identification information in the JOB information file indicates that there is a work schedule in the image processing terminal, the free space for writing the image file to be transferred to the corresponding local storage means is limited. A search is performed to determine whether or not the image file is available. If the corresponding local storage means has free space, the image file is transferred to the local storage means. If the corresponding local storage means has no free space, the image file is transferred to the common storage means. I have to. For this reason, the image file having the work schedule is not lost. Therefore, the operator of the image processing terminal can perform the operation without worrying about the free space of the local storage unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing / plate making system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration near an image file input terminal 70 and a local bus 713 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image processing terminal 10a and a local storage device 60a illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a database management device 30 and a common storage device 40 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the job management apparatus 50.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a job information file generated by the job management device 50.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart when the image file input terminal 70 transfers an image file.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of an operator in the image processing terminal 10a.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart when the image processing terminal 10a reads an image file.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart when the image processing terminal 10a generates a new version of an image file.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a database management file created for an image file “F12”.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a version transition of an image file “F12”.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional printing and plate making processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10a to 10n: Image processing terminal 20: Network 30: Database management device 40: Common storage device 50: JOB management device 60a to 60n: Local storage device 70: Image file input terminal 714: Drum scanner 715: Flat scanner

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing system configured to transfer and store an input image file to one of a common storage unit and a plurality of local storage units via a network, wherein the image file is connected to the network, A database management device that manages writing and reading of image files to and from a common storage unit; and a plurality of image processing terminals that are connected to the network and read image files from the corresponding local storage units and perform predetermined image processing. An image file input unit for inputting an image file; and a JOB including at least identification information indicating presence or absence of a work schedule in the image processing terminal for each image file connected to the network and input by the image file input unit. Job information file generating means for generating an information file A distributed transfer unit connected to the network for distributing an image file input by the image file input unit to one of the common storage unit and the local storage unit based on identification information in the job information file; The image file which is scheduled to work in the image processing terminal is transferred to the corresponding local storage means, and the image file which is not scheduled to work in the image processing terminal is distributed and transferred to the common storage means. An image processing system characterized by the following. 2. The distributed transfer means according to claim 1, wherein, when the identification information in said job information file indicates that there is a work schedule in said image processing terminal, said distributed transfer means only writes the image file to be transferred to said corresponding local storage means. A free space search means for searching whether there is free space, and as a result of the search by the free space search means, when there is free space in the corresponding local storage means, transferring an image file to the local storage means, 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a distribution unit that transfers an image file to the common storage unit when there is no free space in the local storage unit.